Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

56 reviews

camillej's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death and Medical content

jaiari12's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Infidelity, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

crawforl's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual content

lauraegan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have never read a book as visceral and heartbreaking as this. Any earlier in my recovery and I couldn't have finished it, yet it still had me grimacing on the bus at my pain and hers. It felt so exposing and gratifying at once to see the feminine experience spelled out like this. The characters motives and mannerisms matched icons of my own life, and I felt shame for finding my own self-hatred in hers. When you're ready to face your relationships with yourself and others this is it, but read with caution as it may bring up some very hard feelings about sex and relationships. Whenever I need a wake up call about how I used to carry myself and still sometimes do this book is where I will always return.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence

thesawyerbean's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, this was incredible. The writing was so raw, vulnerable and personal, and yet utterly intoxicating. 

The book centred on the whirlwind ‘romance’ between the narrator and Ciaran, laying bare the destructive force of obsessive love on the self. The narrator’s point of view, despite being unnamed, was so intimate that you felt everything that she went through. 

Interweaved with the affecting prose was nuanced and edifying commentary on sex, gender, consent, power and patriarchy, the male gaze and the violence of sex. The flash-forwards to 2019 Athens were rich and clear in these perspectives, providing a stunning contrast to the dizziness of the narrator’s thoughts and experiences in the main timeline. 

Overall, a staggering and important debut which left me stewing in thought for a while after.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Addiction, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, and Infidelity

hbraz's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I hate men - and the narrator. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Self harm, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

kelleykamanda's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a painful read. It follows a character in an abusive relationship. The needing, longing, self destructive feelings are some that many people could relate to. The character finds herself watching what she's doing from outside her body, wondering why she is accepting this horrible pain... and then convinces herself that she must accept this "love" as it is all she is worth. I especially connected to the character's constant need for validation, especially from those who are hurting her the most. 

All in all, an exceptional read. Painful and sad, but truly brilliant. Put into words the experiences that many of us sadly go through. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Rape

sib_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, and Drug use

Minor: Pedophilia

bersblue's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

nosophiesallowed's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a dark and complex inner look at a toxic/abusive relationship and the roles women are expected to play in regard to men’s pleasure and needs. very well done for a debut.

(I received my copy for free from Penguin, this has not influenced my thoughts or opinions in any way) 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content